CDC Director Defends U.S. Response To Domestic Ebola Cases; Some Lawmakers Call For Travel Bans At House Hearing

Oct 17, 2014

News outlets report on a U.S. House hearing examining the federal response to Ebola cases in the U.S., including calls from some lawmakers to enact travel bans for people from West Africa.

The Hill: CDC under fire for Ebola missteps
“Lawmakers in both parties are questioning the competence of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as fears swell about the spread of Ebola in the United States. Gathering for the first congressional hearing since the infections in Dallas, lawmakers took aim at CDC on Thursday, arguing the agency has bungled the response to a major health crisis…” (Ferris, 10/16).

PBS NewsHour: Lawmakers call health agencies to account for Ebola mistakes
“Growing anxiety over Ebola in the U.S. prompted a House hearing to question the nation’s top health officials. Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner and others suggested that limits be placed on travelers coming from West Africa, but a White House spokesman dismissed the idea of a travel ban” (Iffil, 10/16).

Politico: CDC chief survives trial by fire on Hill
“Tom Frieden is getting a lot of public scoldings for all of the missteps in the handling of the Dallas Ebola cases — and there have been plenty of them. But so far, the criticisms don’t appear to be rising to the level where the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needs to worry about his job. Frieden came through a three-hour House hearing Thursday with some bruises but also with his ability to function as director seemingly intact…” (Nather/Norman, 10/16).

Reuters: Lawmakers blast government handling of Ebola on American soil
“U.S. lawmakers on Thursday blasted the Obama administration’s handling of Ebola on American soil, warning that public trust is waning after two nurses caring for a Liberian man with the disease contracted the virus…” (Morgan et al., 10/16).

Wall Street Journal: U.S. Ebola Response Is Slammed by Lawmakers
“…In the nearly three-hour hearing Thursday, which pulled lawmakers off the campaign trail, House members raised alarms that one of the nurses was allowed to fly shortly before being diagnosed with Ebola. Lawmakers also questioned infection-control protocols at the Dallas hospital. The hospital conceded it made mistakes…” (Armour/Lee, 10/16).